The actor Onoe Kikugoro I as Watanabe no Tsuna
second half of 18th century
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban, benizuri-e
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
109390
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo (modern Tokyo), Torii Kiyomitsu I captured the theatrical energy of kabuki with this striking woodblock print, *The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I as Watanabe no Tsuna Kiyomitsu, a master of the Torii school specialized in yakusha-e—portraits of kabuki actors—that celebrated the "floating world" of entertainment. Here, Onoe Kikugoro I Watanabe no Tsuna, a legendary Heian-period warrior famed for slaying the demon of Rashomon Gate in folklore, blending myth with stage drama. This hosoban-format print, a narrow half-sheet size ideal for affordable sale outside theaters, employs benizuri-e techniques: hand-colored with rose-pink outlines and subtle hues achieved through multiple woodblocks. This early color method, predating full-spectrum nishiki-e prints, highlights Kiyomitsu's skill in dynamic poses, expressive faces, and flowing robes, drawing viewers into the actor's fierce intensity. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this work exemplifies ukiyo-e's cultural role in democratizing art, fueling fan culture, and preserving kabuki's golden age. A testament to Japan's printmaking innovation, it invites us to imagine the roar of the audience and the thrill of live performance.
About the Artist
Torii Kiyomitsu I · 1735–1785
Japanese, 1735–1785